Ukraine’s president warns he could end cease-fire

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s president says he may terminate a weeklong cease-fire ahead of time because of continuing rebel attacks. President Petro Poroshenko’s statement Tuesday came hours after pro-Russian insurgents in Slovyansk downed a Ukrainian military helicopter, killing nine servicemen. On Monday, a rebel leader promised to respect the cease-fire. Poroshenko declared the cease-fire on Friday as part of a peace plan to end two-month fighting between the government troops and the rebels in eastern Ukraine. Poroshenko said in the statement that the insurgents have fired on Ukrainian positions 35 times since the cease-fire was announced. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back…